This article is part of our NASCAR DFS series.
Lucas Oil 150
Location: Avondale, Ariz.
Course: Phoenix Raceway
Format: 1.0-mile oval
Laps: 150
Race Preview
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heads to Phoenix Raceway to decide the 2021 season championship. After a tough outing last week at Martinsville, Zane Smith, Ben Rhodes, Matt Crafton and John Hunter Nemechek have separated themselves from the pack and will duke it out in the winner-take-all season finale. Nemechek leads the contenders with five victories this season, while former champion Crafton has yet to visit Victory Lane this year. Sheldon Creed took the title with the Phoenix win last season but missed making the final four this year. Unlike most races this year, on-track practice and qualifying will set the field for Friday night's race, giving the contenders a rare opportunity to get some track time to dial in their settings before the battle commences.
Key Stats at Phoenix Raceway
- Number of races: 30
- Winners from pole: 6
- Winners from top-5 starters: 22
- Winners from top-10 starters: 28
- Winners from 21st or lower starters: 0
- Fastest race: 108.014 mph
Previous 10 Phoenix Winners
2020 - Sheldon Creed
2019 - Stewart Friesen
2018 - Brett Moffitt
2017 - Johnny Sauter
2016 - Daniel Suarez
2015 - Timothy Peters
2014 - Erik Jones
2013 - Erik Jones
2012 - Brian Scott
2011 - Kyle Busch
Phoenix Raceway is a relatively flat 1.0-mile oval. The circuit's flat turns make the racing similar to a road course in that chassis setups will need to be a compromise between different sectors of the circuit, but fantasy managers can look at Richmond as a track that could be considered comparable. The flat layout allows drivers to try many different lines to suit their handling and make passes. However, track position is an important factor. Pit strategy can make the difference between winning and losing. Teams will have to stay on top of adjustments throughout the race, but must also be prepared to do something unique toward the end to gain track position for a shot at the win. This race has only been won by a driver starting lower than 11th once in its 30-race history.
DRAFTKINGS VALUE PICKS (Based on Standard $50K Salary Cap)
DraftKings Tier 1 Values
John Hunter Nemechek - $10,800
Sheldon Creed - $10,600
Zane Smith - $10,400
Ben Rhodes - $10,200
Matt Crafton - $10,000
DraftKings Tier 2 Values
Todd Gilliland - $9,800
Stewart Friesen - $9,500
Johnny Sauter - $9,300
Grant Enfinger - $9,100
DraftKings Tier 3 Values
Christian Eckes - $8,900
Tyler Ankrum - $8,700
Austin Hill - $8,500
Ty Dillon - $8,100
DraftKings Long-Shot Values
Derek Kraus - $7,900
Tanner Gray - $7,500
Ryan Truex - $7,000
Hailie Deegan - $6,400
My Picks
John Hunter Nemechek - $10,800
Todd Gilliland - $9,800
Austin Hill - $8,500
Tanner Gray - $7,500
Ryan Truex - $7,000
Hailie Deegan - $6,400
Nemechek leads the series in wins and is hoping to cap off a successful season with the championship, too. He has four top-10s from seven Phoenix starts but didn't finish the last two. However, he won at Richmond in April, which could be an indicator of success at this track. Todd Gilliland has four Phoenix starts and finished in the top 10 in two of them. He was ninth in this race last season and has an average finish of 11.8. This week's race will be the last as a full-time series driver for Austin Hill before he moves to the Xfinity Series next year. He has four Phoenix starts with a best finish of 12th, which was last season's visit. Tanner Gray enters this week's race fresh off his best finish of the season last week at Martinsville. That third-place run was his first top-five of the year. He should be expected to deliver a top-20 result this week after two Phoenix finishes of 17th and 15th. Ryan Truex has one top-10 from three Phoenix starts and brings three finishes of 16th or better in the last five races leading up to this week's season finale. Rookie Hailie Deegan has proven her fantasy value multiple times this season and should be able to do so again this week. She finished 19th at Martinsville last week and scored another top-20 when the series stopped at Richmond earlier this year, too.
